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Doc. 232.] 257
SWEDENBORG TO ŒTINGER.
tual things which are being revealed at the present day may
be taught and understood naturally and rationally : for spiritual
truths have a correspondence with natural truths, because in
these they terminate, and upon these they rest. That there
is a correspondence of all spiritual things with all things of
man, as well as with all things of the earth, may be seen in
the work on "Heaven and Hell, " nos. 87 to 102, and nos. 103
to 115. For this reason I was introduced by the Lord first
into the natural sciences, and thus prepared ; and, indeed, from
the year 1710 to 1744, when heaven was opened to me. Every
one also is led by means of natural things to spiritual things ;
for man is born natural ; by education he is made moral, and
afterwards by regeneration from the Lord he becomes spiritual.
The Lord has granted to me besides to love truths in a spiri
tual manner, i. e. to love them, not for the sake of honour,
nor for the sake of gain, but for the sake of the truths them
selves ; for he who loves truths for the sake of the truth, sees
them from the Lord, because the Lord is the Way and the
Truth (John xiv, 6) ; but he who loves them for the sake
of honour or gain, sees them from himself; and seeing from
oneself is equivalent to seeing falsities. Falsities that have
been confirmed close the church, wherefore truths rationally
understood have to open it. How else can spiritual things
which transcend the understanding, be understood, acknow
ledged, and received ? The dogma which has been handed
down by the Papists, and accepted by the Protestants, viz. that
the understanding is to be held in bondage under obedience to
faith, has a second time closed the church, and what else is to
open it again, except an understanding illustrated by the Lord ;
but on this subject see the Apocalypsis Revelata, no. 914.
IV. I am very sorry that you should have had to suffer
for the translation of the book on Heaven and Hell ; but what
suffers more at the present day than truth itself ? How few
there are who see it, yea, who are willing to see it ! Do not
allow yourself to be discouraged thereby, but be a defender
of the truth. I remain
Your most obedient
Stockholm, November 11 , 1766.
EM. SWEDENBORG.
17
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